Electrolytic cell



1 T. B. WALKER.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION FILED mu. 6. 1917.

0 M Z 3% 2M a mm. 0 2 M m 2 V/ 0; m f X z um T. B. WALKER.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION FiLED mu. 6. 1912.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920;

UNITED surge PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS BAXLEY WALKER, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

ELECTROLYTIC GELL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS BAILEY WALKER, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Austin, in the county of Travis and Stateof Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement 1n' ElectrolyticCells, which invention 18 fully.

set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to improvements in. electrolytic cells forproducing electrolyte gases such as oxygen and hydrogen, and has I forits objects to automatically maintain a predetermined level of liquid inthe cell and to control the electric current thereto.

Heretofore difficulty has been experienced in the use of sight tubesduring filling or replenishing of electrolytic cells with liquid, due touncertain gas pressure produced by leaks, greater activity of cells, andchanges in the conditions of working, and it is one of the objects of myinvention to overcome this objection.

A further object is to improve the manner of suspendingrthe sackdiaphragm usually employed in cells of this character, and of securingthe same, as well as the cell closure,

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y invention resides in providing an electrolytic cellhavingavalve-controlled liquid feed pipe and switch controlled current supplyconnections with a float located either in a. compartment of the cell orin a side compartment communicating with the cell at points above andbelow the liquid level therein, and providing connections to operate thevalve and switch by a predetermined movement of the float. In order toavoid the objectionable presence of a packing where the connections passthrough the casing wall, I preferably provide a liquid sea-l consistingof a tube depending from the wall of the compartment in which the floatis located, and terminating below the lowest level at which the liquidnormally sinks.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

sure within the cell during filling.

lhrough this tube the connection passes to the float whereby itsmovements are unim- 1 peded by the up-and-down play of the connection inthe tube, while the liquid forms a gas-tight seal between the gas spaceof the cell and the external atmosphere, and therewall and closure andclamp the closure down by specially constructed clamps described below.In this manner the sack itself, which may and preferably is made ofasbestos, serves all the purposes of a gasket.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference ishad to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate,

by way of example, one mechanical eXpres-' sion of the inventive idea,but such drawings are only intended to assist the description of theinvention, and not to define the limits thereof. i

In said drawings, Figure l is a perspective 'view, partly broken away,showing an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 1s a vertical cross-sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Fig.1, particularly showing the manner of clamping the closure of theelectrolytic cell; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing the interior ofthe cell and Patented Nov. 2, 1920. Application filed January 6, 1917.Serial No. 141,062.

the float controlling the liquid supply and source of current. 1

Referring to F ig. 1, 1 is an iron receptacle, preferablyx constitutinga cathode, and 2 is a cover t erefor adapted to be secured in place-bymeans of cam-operated clamps 4. At one end of the cell is located areceptacle 5, having communicating pipes 6 and 7, opening through thewall of the cell, one above and the other below the normal level of theelectrolyte. This receptacle 5 is pro vided with a tube 3 passingthrough the closure 8 and extending down into the receptacle below thelevel of the liquid therein. A float 9 is provided, from which extends arod passing through the tube 3 and constandard 11. Fulcrum arm 10 isprovided with an extension 12 having connection by means of rod 13 witha switch arm 1a, for the purpose of opening and closing the electricsupply circuit, not shown. The opposite end of the lever member 10 has aconnection with a valve 15 through a member 16, for the purpose ofcontrolling the supply of liquid to the electrolytic tank. The closure 2is provided with a depending bead or ledge 17 adapted to rest upon arecessed projection 18 formed on the interior of the walls of the tank.This projection preterably extends downward into the upper space of thetank to form an interior wall 19 for separating the anode from thecathode compartment above the liquid level. 20 is a sack, preferably ofasbestos, adapted to form a diaphragm. The upper edge of this sack isturned outward to lap over the ledge 18 to form a gasket 21, which isheld in place by the depending bead 17 formed on the under side ottheclosure 2. \Vhen this closure is clamped in place by clamps 4, agas-tight joint is formed between the cover and top of the tank. I

The anode 22 is suspended from the cover by means of two tubular members23, which pass through insulating washers 24 positioned in openings inthe cover of the tank, and are secured in place by nuts The tank is alsoprovided with the usual lanterns. 26 formed of transparent material,with a view of enabling the flow of gases to be noted The operation ofthe device thus far described is as follows: The parts having beenassembled as indicated in the drawings, electrolyte or liquid isintroduced through the valve supply pipe 15 to the desired level, andthe electric current turned on. As the electrolysis of the liquidprogresses, its level lowers within the tank, carrying with it the float\Vhen this level reaches a predetermined point, the float, through itsconnection with the lever 10, opens the fluid supply valve 15, and atthe same time throws the switch arm 14 into inoperative position to cutoff the electric fluid or current from the cell. As the liquid nowbegins to rise in the cell, the float also rises, until the level againreaches its normal position, when the valve 15 is closed and the switcharm 14 thrown into operative position to continue the process ofelectrolysis.

When it is desired to gain access to the interior of the tank to removethe sack or to replace its electrode, this is quickly and readilyaccomplished by means of the camoperated switches 4, by throwing the camarms 4' outward, thereby relieving the pres sure of the clamp upon theprojecting ledges of the tank, and permitting their quick removal.

; The clamping operation is accomplished 1n the same manner by placingthe clamps in position, and at one stroke throwing the cam into clampingposition.

For the purpose of preventing leakage of current through pipeconnections, the liquid supply pipe is provided with a section ofinsulating tubing 27 of glass or porcelain. The support 11 is alsopreferably insulated, and the connections 6 and 7 of the chamber 5 maybe, and preferably are, made of insulating tubing.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In electrolytic apparatus wherein the fluid supply controlling meansare con"- trolled by the level of the electrolyte in one of theelectrode compartments of the cell, the combination of a closedelectrode compartment, a float chamber open to said compartment aboveand below the normal electrolyte level therein, a liquid seal pipe oneend of which is open to the atmosphere and the opposite end adapted tobe sealed by the liquid normally in said float chamber, and a float insaid chamber having power transmitting connections passing through saidpipe for operating said fluid controlling means.

2. In electrolytic apparatus wherein the fluid supply controlling meansare controlled by the level of the electrolyte in one of the electrodecompartmentsof the cell, the combination of a closed electrodecompartment, a liquid seal tube open' at one end to the atmosphere, theopposite end of which is sealed by the electrolyte, and a float adaptedto rise and fall with the level of the electrolyte and exposed to thegas pressure in said electrode compartment, said float having powertransmitting connections working ,through said tube for operating saidfluid supply controlling means.

3. In electrolytic apparatus wherein the fluid supply controlling meansare controlled by the level of the electrolyte in one of the electrodecompartments of the cell, the combination of a closed electrodecompartment, a float chamber open to said compartment above and belowthe normal level of the electrolyte therein, a liquid seal pipe one endof which is open to the atmosphere and the opposite end is sealedspecification.

THOMAS BAILEY WALKER,

